The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage/Part I/Geraniaceae
V.GERANIACEÆ, DeC.
1. Geranium microphyllum, Hook. fil.; pusillum, adpresse pubescens, caulibus adscendentibus, foliis omnibus longe petiolatis orbiculari-reniformibus 5–7-lobatis, lobis trifidis subtus discoloribus, pedunculis lateralibus solitariis v. binis elongatis unifloris supra medium bibracteolatis, petalis (albis) obovato-cuneatis integris v. retusis, glandulis ad basin staminum fere obsoletis, filamentis ciliatis, stylis brevibus, ovario piloso. (Tab. V.)
Hab. Lord Auckland's group; in boggy places, alt. 1000 feet.
Radix perennis, multiceps, ad collum squamosa; squamis vaginantibus, ovatis, membranaceis, fuscis, nitidis. Caules ex eadem radice 3–4, 3–5 unc. longi, nudiusculi, decumbentes, deinde adscendentes, parce pilosi, crassitie pennæ passerinæ, internodiis remotis. Folia radicalia longissime petiolata, ⅓ unc. lata, supra, et subtus (præcipue ad nervos) adpresse pilosa; lobis lato-cuneatis, obtusis, 3-fidis, segmentis latis acutis; læte viridia, subtus fusco-purpurea. Petioli graciles, filiformes, 2 unc. longi, basi stipulis vaginati, inferne glaberrimi, superne incano-pilosi. Stipulæ ovatæ, acuminatæ, rufo-fuscæ, scarioso-membranaceæ. Pedunculi uniflori, erecti, petiolo breviores, superne pilosi, supra medium bibracteolati; bracteis parvis, oppositis, ovatis, acuminatis. Petala 1½–2 lin. longa, patentia, alba. Stamina 10, subæqualia; antheris oblongis.
In the single-flowered peduncles this is allied to the Tasmanian G. potentilloides of L’Héritier, but the plant is much more dwarfish, with short procumbent or ascending stems, less hairy, especially below, with the hairs appressed; the peduncles also are shorter than the leaves, which latter are less deeply cut.
Plate V. Fig. 1, flower; fig. 2, petal; fig. 3, flower with the petals removed; fig. 4, underside of the calyx; fig. 5, portion of the stamens; fig. 6, ovaria:—all more or less magnified.